Monday, March 2, 2015

Ideology Over Common Sense

I was having this argument with a former student on Facebook last night. The conservative position on laws is in stark contrast to the old accent on laws from conservatives ranging from Edmund Burke to William F. Buckley.

It used to be that conservatism venerated laws, because law meant order. Today's GOP is more anarchist in its approach to governance, and this ridiculous effort in Maine is just the latest example in a long line of stupid ideas based on the reflexive ideological opposition to governance that doesn't involve keeping "dangerous" (blacks, Muslims, Hispanics) in their place.

A heard a quote from a state trooper who said, "I never unbuckled a corpse." Seat belts are an easy way to save lives, save injuries and provide a positive good for the country. Yes, there are times I don't like wearing a seat belt. Suck it the hell up and buckle up.

But to the GOP, that's tyranny. Literally, tyranny.

Take this quote:

But Republican Sen. Roger Katz, whose bill would allow people to use hands-free devices, rejected the notion that the proposal is just "another example of intrusion into our personal lives."

"If you chose to put yourself in harm's way, that's one thing. ... But when the danger and harm extends to others, then that's a different story."

Hey, dipshit? You jabbering away on your cell phone puts all of us in danger. And when you catapult through your windshield at 55 MPH and spend the rest of your days in medical care, we wind up paying for that, too.